Depth testing and indicating device



Aug. 9, 1 932. E. A. ROCKWELL DEPTH TESTING AND INDICA'I'ING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l flllllllllllulllllllllllllllfilltlli lllltlllll! llliillllllllillllilllll 4m Muzzy/4V4;

INN/4% Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll MHEHIHNIII Aug. 9, 1932. E. A. ROCKWELL 1,370,652

DEPTH TESTING AND INDIQATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/1. [m

Aug. 9, 1932. E. A. ROCKWELL 1,870,652

DEPTH TESTING AND INDICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 QWW d w.

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES EDWARD A. ROCKWELL, LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK DEPTH TESTING AND INDICATING DEVICE Application filed December 7, 1927. Serial No. 238,246.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus by which the depth of liquid in a container may be reliably ascertained at a distance from the container,

as of the fuel supply tank on an automobile required to be known by the driver at the steering wheel. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

so In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a tank containing liquid whose depth is to be ascertained, provided with a device embodying this invention, and diagrammatically shown connected to the indicating device at a distance, as on the dash of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a detail section at the line 22 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an axial section of a graduated depth-testing and indicating device mounted at the dash, the same being seen in side elevation'oii Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan section of the device shown in Figure 3 with the graduated member of the indicator at a different position.

Figure 5 is an axial section of a modified form of the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figurefi is an elevation of the construction shown in Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrow, 6, on that figure.

Figure 7 is a detail section at the line 77 on Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail section at the line 88 on Figure 5. v

Figure 9 is a horizontal detail section at the line 99 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the float rod mounting. y

In the structure shown in the drawings, A is the fuel tank of an automobile, B is a fitting mounted over and encompassing an opening, a, in the top of the tank, A, for carrying a depth-responsive device to be described. The total fitting, B, comprises two members, 10 and 11, the member, 10, being of the nature of an escutcheon designed to be riveted upon the top of the tank encompassing the opening, a, the member, 11, being of the nature of a cover for the opening in the escutcheon and tank, and serving as the direct means of supporting the depth-responsive device which is suspended from it through the opening, a, in the tank. 12 is a hanger in the form of a depending loop with parallel side bars, 12 secured at'its upper end, as mentioned, to the fitting cover, 11, and extending down through the opening, a, in the tank for mounting in the tank certain parts to be operated by a float therein for responding to and indicating depth. These depth-responsive parts comprise a disk, 14, pivotally mounted between the bars of the hanger, 12, having its pivot or rock shaft, 14 extending out through one of said bars for securement thereto of a collar, 15, to which there is secured adjustably, as hereinafter explained, an arm, 16, which carries the float, 17, designed to be responsive by rising and falling movement to the depth of the liquid contents of the tank. The disk, 14, is of a form which might be described as a cam, but which is not designed to operate cam-wise, but has an eccentric periphery, 14 for variably stopping a lever, 20, which is fulcrumed on the hanger, 12, and carries an abutment, 20, positioned for encountering the eccentric periphery of the stop member, 14, upon being actuated for that purpose in testing the depth of the liquid contents of the tank. The lever, 20, extends up between the side bars of the hanger, 12, terminating under the cover member, 11, of the fitting, B, where there is connected to it a connector, 25, of any suitable sort for extending to the position at which it may be actuated longitudinally for operating the device in the tank for testing and obtaining indication of the depth of the liquid contents thereof. As illustrated, the connector, 25, is of the general character of the Bowden wire, having its casing, 26, mounted fixedly in the cover member, 11, for which purpose said cover member terminates at one side in an axially bored and split lug, 11 in Whose axial bore the casing is fitted and clamped by a clamping bolt, 11, as seen in Figure 3 and 4. The connection of the Bowden wire to the end of the lever, 20, is preferably made rigidly, that is, so asnot to'b'e pivotal, the flexibility of the wire serving to accommodate the slight wire in the plunger by forcing a bend into the change of angle of the wire to the lever which larger diametered bore as seen at 7 occurs in swinging the lever through the lim- The fitting, 30, is apertured at its upper side ited angle of its operation. as seen at for access to the end of the 5 To facilitate assembling as hereinafter de-' plunger, and the screw, in making the serille ,th,e,en,d 0f lever 20, has a slender connection of the Bowden wire to the'plung- -hole, adapted to ,adriiiis 'the jentl" of the eraadescribed. Said lesser dit netered porwire, 25, extending acrossthe larger dia'n'1" tion or thebore ofjthe-fitt nggil, is adapted etered hole, 20, and a hole drilled andtapped ior secure engagement therein of the casing, 10 into the end of the lever cross-wise of both 25., of the Bowden wire connector in the same 7 the holes, 20 and 20, receives a blunt end manner as abovedescribed with respect to a screw, 20 The end of thewire being in-' thecovern embenill, for securing the other serted through the slender bore, 20", across the end of said casing, viz., by being split as seen larger bore, 20', the screw "being screwed in, at 40? and provided with a clamping bolt, 42, 1'clinches thewire in the lever byfrorcing a for clamping the divided end portions onto 2= --.nbend into'thelargeri 'diameter'eddible, 20; the Bowden wire casing.

i" The-movement of, the lever, 20m ns: the pull =Theplunger, 140,-isforn1ed with a flat, 40, gof the connector, 2 5, is liinited independently at the'upper-side which. ,coristitutesf a key -of-thedimensions f the'op'enings iii the tank', seatrfor cooperating with a; keyjto prevent 1' 79 escutcheon, .l0, and cover, 11,by any eonthe=plungerfro1n be ng rotated inu e sleeve. 1. 1 niVellieIltQIlGaIliWhlGllIlflfiiYbe a stop'lug', 20; Such key is shown at-50, beinga bolt inserted f1; .struckaiadioldedfi'oin one of thea'rms,"12,- transversely :of the sleeve" plunger in a foreneountering edgedf the lever atsaid' b0ss,"30,-provided and bored'ffo'rithat pur- .-lirnit., ,A stretched spring, QS,"is"p rovided, poseziThe flat,, t0j,j,s graduated forfa distance '--a-ttached l a tione, end to the hzihgiglQ, and at the rear end,the,graduations' extending :at the otherend to the lever',20, reacting on from theiknob; gtorwardly to desired dis 1, .-,th e leverfor ret racting thefabutinentQQO tance correspondingto the range of 1110"?)- taway,,:froin the' eccentr'ic periphery, 14 of*'1n'ent ref-the upper end of the lever, 15, as

V th di k, 14, ui d thereby holding the; lever at "above described, saidgrad-uations being made J 9, its upper end atjonelliniit of its range of to indicate either inches of depth of the liquid a movement in .the fitting 'B, th e'i l'e'ver being inthe tank, or gallons of liquid contents, and

stoppednt thatliinit,jThelevefiizOfis preferbemgcalibratedtor either, purpose accordi lanpn v d iifw thforearms, 26, exte dmg to the form and dimensions of the tank, ing ,firorn the, locality offthe abutrnent, 20, and the angular; noyenrentof the eccentric i'.,.l f0l} St,riding the disk,14;'to'ensur'encounter dlsk 'in the, rise a d a o the fleet between moi the, abutment with the disk. I i low toihig'h-liguid levelil glhe graduated scale ,5! At-the dash ther is in ufitgdh fitti formed upon theflat of the plunger" is neces- 3O, whichisofthe'nature of a sleeve havin'g ZlI yDft0 limi ed a n o, permit large an enlarge'mentiat one end, reduced in diamand prominent-or, easily readable markings,

eter ,and threaded at that enthas seen at 31, 1 here!-isigtherefgreg'pi'ovided,in addition jnfprma shoulder, 32, for stopping against? to the graduated scale on the flat,both tactheiorwar d side of the dash'when the threadfilial di ih l'; m9a' f, fOrm ng he -;ed end is inserted through an apert re thereoperator as to the depth or quantity of liquid i -in for, eceiving ne rear, side a nut, 33, for COIItGntSJiIL hQ' F r t ispu p s th re l ih thg fitting m l it d s -5:1 are formed in-the iiahat suitable portion,

,Saidfitting' is; a; i-a11 bored at 3O, 'from end preferabl forward oft-he graduated scale, a -to.,end, and connte'r-b'o'red, at 30 forthe a' serieso depressionsAOflffor seating a ball,

grpater portioiior ts from the rear 51, which is carried in thecross key, 50, said at enduto constitute '1 sleeveas described, and key having a socket at proper position for V 9inthecounter-borethereis seated'a plunger, regi ering Wi h h at, 410K, nd thereby ,Amdmmeteredfor fitting'infthefcounterbore; withsaidsdepress ons s .thevfs ucessively a; At the rear end said plunger terminates in a reach the cross: key in the withdrawing movew.= threadedjang,r tOflifor,receiving an "o era: 'mentiof the plunger, a spring in the socket in g knob,' 4 1. {The fBowden wire, 25, ex-- behind the ball-serving to causethe ball to r. of the fitting into the end bf th' -pl11ng 2 reach the cross key, and produce a vibration erintowhose'forwardend aslender-hole is :whichcan betelt;by-theloperatojr holding the a ,;drilled j as seen: at 21:0", dial'rietered foi -r lrknob,andqvhich also. can be heard under 1 i :P ,ceiving the, en'dfof the Bowde'n wire,' 'anda favorablelconditions,IsOQthat the operator, largerdiametered hole/{40 i s d'rille'd crossa: by counting-thevibrations felt or heard as wisefof'the lunger' and'of the*slender' holenvhe?withdraws the,knob ,,niaybe' fadvised as f. i ,thflein andtfipPd i one side of'said slendera td the .depth ofg the liqui'dffwithout reading =.-.h 018f 01 receiy n'gacllnchingserew,40 ,which', th rad at d l i l r gheing si'crewd'in after the end of the wirehasi imfineg punpose ofg the.v specific construction 5 been insertedihthe slerider*hole, clinches1the itshown is to render possible'zt'nd convens tendsinjhr'ough the lesser diainetered borie snap into the sockets successively as they 1% ient to install the part of the device which is designed for installation in the tank wherein the depth of liquid is to be measured, quite independently of the installation of the indicating device at the dash or elsewhere distant from the tank where the device is to be operated for testing and indicating the depth; and to permit and facilitate mounting the indicating device at the dash or wherever it is to be operated independently of the installation of the part of the apparatus which is installed at the tank; and to connect the two parts of the apparatus after each has been thus installed in its proper place by a, connector of such length as may be required accordingly to the distance and the course by which the connector is most conveniently led from the one element to the other. And it will be seen that the two parts of the apparatus as above described are adapted to be thus, each independently of the other, installed in its proper place if the connector employed is adapted to be connected with said separately installed elements after they are thus installed without leaving slack of the connector between the two elements which, if it exists, would eventually defeat the accuracy and reliability of the device for its purpose. To accomplish this purpose of preventing the existence of slack in the connector when the connector consists of Bowden wire as described, the manner of installation and connection for which the construction described is adapted, is as follows The wire, 25, protruding from the bowden wire casing, in inserted through the bore, 80 of the fitting, 30, and into the slender bore, 40, of the plunger, 40, and taking advantage of the access afforded through the opening, 30, the wire, 25, is secured to the plunger by setting the clinching screw, 40", and the Bowden wire casing is then drawn up and inserted and clamped in the split terminal, 40, of the fitting, 30.

The Bowden wire casing may then be led by the desired course and positioned at the several points of support and change of direction for avoiding unnecessary length and preventing slack, which, by yielding laterally, might prevent the thrust or pull of the wire through the casing; and the casing may then be cut to length for being inserted and clamped in the split terminal lug, 11, of the cover member at the tank, the wire protruding a suflicient length for reaching and being attached at the end of the lever, 20, with that lever at the limit of its range of movement in the opening, a, of the tank at which it is normally held by the spring, 28.

It will be understood that the attachment of the Bowden wire to the lever, 20, and its casing, to the cover member, 11, may be made while the cover member is detached from the escutcheon, 10, the end opposite the split lug being tilted up for access to the end of the lever in attaching the wire to the latter.

The mode of operation of this construction may be understood from the foregoing description, but it will now be further described.

Upon the tank being filled with liquid, the rise of the float therein rocks the disk, 14, through an angle corresponding to the depth capacity of the tank, causing its eccentric periphery to advance toward the abutment, 20", carried by the lever, 20. If at this position the driver withdraws the plunger, the lever, 20, is swung a-short distance for carrying the abutment, 2 against the eccentric edge of the disk, and the reading upon the graduated angle of the plunger will show the contents of the tank at maximum of its capacity. When subsequently a portion of the contents of the tank has been withdrawn and the driver desires to be advised of the remaining contents, upon withdrawing the plunger the lever, 20, is actuated to carry the abutment, 20 against the eccentric edge of the disk which by that time on account of the lowering of the float, is rocked to a position for encounter by the abutment after a movement of the lever through a distance corresponding to the lowering of the liquid level, and the graduated scale on the fiat of the plunger will indicate the remaining depth or remaining liquid contents of the tank in inches of depth or in gallons, according to the calibration of the scale, that is, whether calibrated for depth or for cubic contents of the tank. It will be understood that in order that the indication may be accurate the construction must be such that the thrust of the abutment, 20 against the eccentric edge of the disk shall not cause any displacement of the disk from the position to which it has been rotated by the float descending from highest position or rising from lowest position in accordance with the depth of liquid in the tank. And by reference to the drawings it may be seen that the parts .are so dimensioned, and the fulcrum of the lever so positioned with respect to the axis of the disk, that the impact of the abutment against the edge of the disk is at all depths and resultant positions of the disk substantially at right angles to a tangent to the disk at the point of impact; and that this angular relation is not materially different at different positions of the disk, due to different depths of liquid in the tan k. To further insure against displacement of the disk by the thrust of the abutment, 20*, against the edge of the disk when that thrust is unavoidably slightly oblique to said edge, the latter is desirably finely serrated or otherwise roughened as indicated in Figure 1, wherein, however, the roughening is exaggerated in comparison with what is necessary, the actual roughening desirable being too fine to be seen in the drawings on the reduced scale necessarily employed. It will be seen, also, that the construction must be such that the movement of the plunger corresponds accurately to the movement of the abutment for coming into contact with the disk; that is, that there shall be no slack or lost motion in the connections which will permit movement of the V plunger which does not cause corresponding movement of the abutment for reaching the disk. In order that this condition may be met, it will be seenthat the tension of the spring, 28, by which the lever is held normally stopped at one limit of swing of the lever, must be sufficient to take up any slack or lost motion in the connections from the abutment to the graduated plunger, including the pivot of the lever in the hanger, 12. And it will be recognized that if the spring is thus tensioned, any play which may result from looseness of original construction or wear of the pivots or bearings in any of the parts, will not interfere with the accuracy of the indication obtained if throughout their range of movement the direction of stress of the parts onto their pivots, due to the withdrawal movement of the plunger, is the same as the direction "of stress of the spring at normal position of the rest, so that the withdrawal of the plunger merely increases the tension without changing the direction in which it acts with respect to the pivots in the line of connection from the abutment to the plunger knob. And these conditions, it will be seen, are met inthe construction as shown.

In Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 there is illustrated a modification consisting in substituting a rotatable shaft for the longitudinally movable plunger, 40, and an arcuate graduated scale for the longitudinally graduated scale on the flat of the plunger, and means for winding up the connector by the rotation of the rotatable stem substituted for the longitudinally reciprocable plunger by the operator for obtaining reading on the graduated scale. This modified construction, therefore, comprises at the dash a bracket, 60, adapted for mounting on the dash, substituted for the fitting, 30; a rotatable shaft, 70, journaled in the bracket and carrying at the rear end an arcuate graduated scale, 71, co-operating with a fixed reading point, 72; said rotatable shaft having at the forward end a small Windlass, 61, to which the end of the connector, 80, substituted for the Bowden wire connector, 25, is attached for being wound thereon by the shaft. The connectorin this construction has its initial part, 80, which is wound on the Windlass, 60, preferably consisting of a flexible and substantially unstretchable cordor small wire cable. The remainder, 80*, may be Bowden wire extending through suitableguide tube as seen at 88 at points of change of direction from the windlass to the lever, 20, to which it is attached fixedly in any convenient and suitable manner. It will be understood, that the spring,

28, will be adapted to take up all slack in this flexible connector when the lever is against the stop at normal position of rest.

It is quite desirable that the resistance experienced by the operator in moving the manually-operated element of the indicator, whether of the form shown in the earlier figures or that shown in the later figures, should not vary widely throughout the entire range of movement, that is, whether the depth indicated is small or great; but since the resistance is that due to the tension of the spring which holds the abutment of the lever out of contact with the eccentric periphery of the part which is positioned by the float and should be at all times sufficient to take up the slack and the lost motion of the connections, it is considered of advantage that this resistance should be greatest at the depth-indicating position of the lever corresponding to the lowest level of liquid in the tank or what may be referred to as the zero level. These results are accomplished by the construction and arrangement of the lever fulcrum with respect to the spring, or of the line of reaction of the spring with respect to the lever fulcrum at the different depth-indicating positions of the lever. The relation of said features which obtains the result is that the spring is connected as'to its fixed end and its end attached to the lever, to cause the line of its reaction at the position of the lever corresponding to minimum depth of liquid in the tank to extend proximate to the lever fulcrum at the side of said fulcrum from which the lever moves and to depth-indicating positions corresponding to increased depth of liquid. The spring being stretched between its points of connection to the desired tension necessary for taking up the slack, it will be seen that with the relation stated of its line of reaction to the lever fulcrum, the greatest stretch is experienced at the first mentioned position and the stretch is slightly reduced as the lever swings from that position to positions corresponding to greater depth;

I claim I 1. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated, in combination with a container,a depth-responsive device therein having means adapted to assume a different position according to the depth of a liquid in the container, a depth indicator adapted to be mounted independently of the container, op-

erating connections from the depth-responsive deviceto the indicator, the indicator being provided with a manually operable part susceptible of greater or less movement according to the position of said means, said manually operable part having a series of recesses therein, and said indicator also including a part adapted to successively enter said recesses upon movement of the operable part, whereby to give an audible indication of the extent of said movement.

2. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with a container, a depth-responsive device therein having means adapted to assume a difierent position according to the depth of a liquid in the container, a depth indicator adapted to be mounted independently of the container, cooperating connections between the depth-responsive device and the incicator, the indicator being provided with a manually operable part susceptible of greater or less movement according to the position of said means, said manually operable part comprising a series of successively positioned recesses, and a spring-actuated element for projecting into said recesses successively as said movable part is manually operated, whereby there are provided successive vibrations due to the thrust into said recesses successively of said element to indicate the extent of said movement.

3. In an apparatus of the character described in combination with a liquid container, a depth-responsive device therein; a pivotally mounted element having an eccentric periphery, and operating connections to said element from the depth-responsive device for moving said element about its pivot; a lever having an abutment for encountering the eccentric periphery of said pivoted element; a spring reacting on the lever for normally holding its abutment out of contact with said eccentric periphery, and means for actuating the lever against the resistance of the spring to carry the abutment into such contact, the spring being connected for reaction on the lever in a line which extends proximate to the lever fulcrum and which is nearer to the fulcrum as the depth inclicated is greater.

4. In a construction for the purpose indicated, in combination, a container, a variable stop element therein and means for varying its position according to the liquid level, means for indicating the liquid level in said container comprising a member movable from a normal rest position into contact with the variable stop element, movable means outside of the container having a series of recesses therein, and an elastically reacting member mounted in relatively fixed position in the path of movement of said movable means adapted to respond to said recesses as the said part is manually moved past it to give an audible tactual indication.

5. In combination, a container and a depth indicating apparatus therein comprising a pivotally mounted element with an eccentric outer surface and an adjustable collar, a float structure for moving the said element according to the level of the liquid connected to said element by means of the collar which is adjustably secured to the pivoted element so that said float may be rotatably adjusted about the axis of and relative to said pivotal element.

6. In combination, a container and depth indicating apparatus comprising a pivotally mounted element with an eccentric outer surface, a float for moving the same, according to the level of the liquid and means connecting it thereto, an angular lever having a projection within the angular part thereof, adapted to be brought into contact with said eccentric surface manually from time to time to indicate the depth of the liquid, and a spring for normally retracting said lever.

7. In combination, a container and a depth indicating apparatus comprising an indicator in the form of a movable rod having a flattened face with a series of recesses, a housing for said rod, the same being provided with a transverse pin adapted to cooperate ith the flattened face on said rod to prevent rotation thereof, said pin having a movable plunger therein adapted to successively cooperate with said recesses upon movement of the rod whereby to give an audible indication as to the extent of said movement.

8. In combination, a container and a depth indicating apparatus comprising an indicator in the form of a movable rod having a. flattened face, a housing for the same provided with a transverse pin adapted to cooperate with the fiattened face on said rod to prevent rotation thereof, said flattened face having a series of recesses and a spring pressed ball in said pin for cooperating with said recesses.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, 111., this 3d day of December, 1927.

EDI YARD A. ROCIUVELL. 

